Incompetent meaning

ĭn-kŏm'pĭ-tənt
The definition of incompetent is someone or something not qualified, inadequate or insufficient for a given purpose.

An example of incompetent is a person getting behind the wheel of a manual transmission car, who doesn't know how to drive with a stick shift.

adjective
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Lacking qualities necessary for effective conduct or action.

An incompetent manager.

adjective
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Not legally qualified, as testimony that does not meet the standards for admissibility or a juror whose personal interest in the outcome of the case does not allow him or her to serve.
adjective
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Inadequate for or unsuited to a particular purpose or application.
adjective
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Not functioning properly in the body.

An incompetent heart valve.

adjective
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Lacking sufficient mental ability or awareness.

A defendant incompetent to stand trial.

adjective
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An incompetent person.
noun
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Without adequate ability, knowledge, fitness, etc.; failing to meet requirements; incapable; unskillful.
adjective
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Not legally qualified.
adjective
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Lacking strength and sufficient flexibility to transmit pressure, thus breaking or flowing under stress.
adjective
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An incompetent person; esp., one who is mentally deficient.
noun
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Of evidence, that it is not admissible.
adjective
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Of a witness, that he or she is not permitted to testify, on the grounds that his or her testimony is not relevant or is subject to some other disqualification.
adjective
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Unskilled, lacking normally expected degree of ability.

Having an incompetent lawyer may be grounds for a retrial, but the lawyer in question probably doesn't know that.

adjective
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Unable to make rational decisions, insane or otherwise cognitively impaired.

The charged was judged incompetent to stand trial, at least until his medication started working.

adjective
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A person who is incompetent.
noun
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Origin of incompetent

From French incompétent

Sentence Examples

  • The Parkside men in blue were noth­ing but a bunch of incompetent misfits who should all be fired, so continued the tirade.

  • In 1886, the year in which the Rand mines were discovered, President Kruger was by no means a popular man even among his own followers; as an administrator of internal affairs he had shown himself grossly incompetent, and it was only the specious success of his negotiations with the British government which had retained him any measure of support.

  • Moylan, however, proved incompetent, and Mifflin resumed the office on the 1st of October.

  • But their kings were incompetent, their chiefs jealous and their tribes divided.

  • His incompetent leadership made it necessary for the rebels to invoke the help of France.

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Words near incompetent in the Dictionary